Gait-rack



L. L. PRATER.

CAN RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22,1920.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESS:

17. Z-Prqien" INVENTOR ATTQRN EY L. L. PRATER.

CAN RACK.

APPLICATION ElLED JULY 22, 920.

1,387,309. Patented Aug. 9,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY WITNESS 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD L. PRATER, 0F DENVER, COLORADO.

CAN-RACK.

T00 whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEONARD L. PRATER, a citizenof United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and Stateof Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Racks, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to can racks and has particular application to adevice designed to facilitate the filling of the rack with cans as theoccasion requires.

More specifically stated, the invention is designed for use inconnection with the rack wherein the cans are arranged in superimposedrelation and the rack filled from the bottom. The invention embodiesamong other features a plunger actuated from a manually operable leverfor moving the cans upwardly in the rack step by step a predetermineddistance to allow the cans to be singly positioned within the rack fromthe bottom. I I I An important object of the invention resides in theconstruction of a device for the above mentioned purpose, which can bereadily and easily mounted upon the rack for use and easily removedtherefrom subsequent to the filling of the rack.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understoodwhen the following detailed description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts as claimed. A v

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals ofreference indicate 5111111311 parts the several views and wherein sFigure 1 is a front elevation of the rack with the refilling deviceremoved.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the refilling device in position.

Fig.3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 5' is a vertical sectional view taken through the rack andillustrating the manner-of using the refilling device.

Fig. 6 is'a perspective view of the refilling device. r

Fig. 7 is" a'fragmentary View showing the manner of supporting the canswithin the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 9, 1921.

1920. Serial N0. 398,283.

Referring to the drawings in detail the can, rack is generally indicatedat A, and embodies a receptacle of substantially rectangular formationin cross section. The rack includes a rear wall 10, side walls 11 and afront wall 12, the latter being longitudinally slotted as at 13, and atop 14. The receptacle is of course of the proper size to accommodatethe cans which are arranged within the rack in superimposed relation asclearly shown. The rear wall 10 projects an appreciable distance belowthe end of the side walls 11 as at 15 and projecting from this portion15 of the rear wall are spaced superimposed lugs 16 having alinedopenings 17 for the purpose to be hereinafter described. Projecting fromthe rear wall 10 immediately beneath the side walls 11 are spacedbracket arms 19 having their forward corresponding extremities 19 turnedupwardly to support the can in advance of the front wall as shown inFig. 5. It is of course manifest, that the cans 20 arranged within therack are singly ejected therefrom, one of these cans always occupyingthe position in advance of the front wall as shown in Fig. 5, so that itcan be readily removed.

The refilling device forming the subject matter of my invention,includes a yoke, the side arms and side 21 of which have their free endsterminating to provide eyes or loops 22 adaptedto receive the'pivotstuds 23 projectingfrom the sides 11 of the rack. Associated with theyoke is a lever 2 1 that projects immediately from the yoke.

Depending from the sides 21 of the yoke are spaced parallel arms 25 thathave their lower ends connected by a cross piece 26. The cross pieceextends through the plunger rod 27 which is arranged for slidingmovement through the openings 17 of the lugs 16. The cross piece26'operates between the lugs 16'. One of these lugs 16 is provided witha pivoted latch 28 which serves to hold the plunger rod associated withthe lugs 16- for use, and permit of the separation of these parts whenit is desired to remove the device from the rack.' The upperend of theplunger rod is equipped with a plunger 30 which is curved to conformtothe shape of the can "which it "is adapted to lift. In addition to theplunger rod being detachably associated with the lugs 16, the yoke isalso separably associated with the rack A, when the terminals of theyoke can be easily slipped over the pivot studs 23 when the use of thedevice is required, and just as easily removed from the studs subsequentto the filling of the rack.

In practice, the device is mounted upon the rack in the manner shown inFigs. 2 and 5, and a can placed upon the bracket arms beneath the openend of the rack. The lever 24L is then elevated, and by reason of theconnections between the lever and the plunger rod,'the latter is liftedmoving the can just mentioned a predetermined distance within the rackA. Projecting within the rack at each side thereof is a pin 32 which isso arranged as to allow the can to move upwardly within the rack tosupport the can in a manner so it cannot gravitate to a position uponthe bracket arms after the plunger has been lowered. This isaccomplished by associating the pins 32 with resilient strips 33, thestrips 33 being pivoted upon the opposite sides 11 of the receptacle sothat the pins can be swung away from the openings 34 in the receptacle,or swung in alinement with said openings so as to pass therethrough whentheir use is desired. Consequently, the lever 24: is now depressedlowering the plunger rod a sufficient distance to admit another can tobe placed beneath the open end of the rack, and when so positioned thelever 24 is again raised moving the plunger upwardly and forcing the canreferred to within the rack A takingthe position of the previouslymentioned can initially inserted in the rack through the instrumentalityof the refilling device. This operation is continued until the rack hasbeen completely filled with cans, after which the pin 32 is removed fromthe rack so as not to interfere with the dispensing of the can. Therefilling device is then detached from the rack by removing the yoke Ifrom the studs 23 and the plunger from the lugs 16. The construction issuch that the rack can be completely filled with cans in quick order,and With very little effort on the part of the user.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to haveit understood that what is herein shown and described ismerelyillustrative of one embodiment of the in vention to which I do not limitmyself and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fallwithin the scope of what is claimed. t

What I claim is: r 1. In combination, a receptacle adapted to receive aplurality of cans arranged in superimposed relation, said receptacle including front and rear walls, bracket arms projecting from the rear wallofthe receptacle at a point beneath the front wall thereof,;and meansmounted on said receptacle operable for moving each can within thereceptacle from one end thereof a predetermined distance, and meansmovably mounted on the receptacle for holding the cans moved by saiddevice in their given positions.

3. In combination, a receptacle including front and rear walls, and openat one end to receive a plurality of cans, bracket arms projecting fromthe rear wall of the receptacle beneath the front wall thereof anddesigned to supportv the cans within the receptacle in superimposedrelation, a refilling device detachably associated with the receptacleand including a lunger arranged beneath the open end of tiie receptacleand operable to move said cans within the receptacle,

means for operating said plunger,and means the rear wall projectingbelowthe front.

wall, bracket arms projecting from the rear wall across the open end ofthe receptacle and designed to support cans within the receptacle insuperimposed relation, apertured lugs projecting from the rear wall, arefilling device including a plunger designed to en gage and move saidcans within the receptacle through the open end thereof, means foroperating said plunger, andjmeans associated with the receptacle forholding the cans within the latter when theplungerris returned to normalposition.

5. In combination, a receptacle including front and rear walls, and openat one end, means for supporting a plurality of cans in superimposedrelation within the receptawith the receptacle and including a pivoted.yoke, a plunger operating through the open end of the receptacle, aconnection between the yoke and said plunger whereby the latter is movedsimultaneously with the 'yoke, I a lever carried by the yoke, saidplunger operating in one direction to movethecans within thereceptaclethrough the openend thereof, and means movably associated withthe receptacle for holding the cans within the receptacle after theplunger has been returned to the normal position.

6. In combination, a receptacle including front and rear walls and openat one end, bracket arms projecting from the rear Wall of the receptacleacross said open end and terminating in advance of the front Wall of thereceptacle, said arms being designed to support a plurality of canswithin the receptacle in superimposed relation, a refilling de-' Vicedetachably associated with the receptacle and including a yoke pivotallymounted thereon, a plunger operating through said 10 open end betweenthe yoke and said plunger whereby the latter is operated in said yoke,and means movably associated with the receptacle for holding the canswithin the latter after the plunger has been returned to 15

